Primary and secondary pest management in agriculture: balancing pesticides and natural enemies in potato production

Natural enemies (NEs) provide an important ecosystem service by preying on variety of pests in agricultural crop production systems. Current management practices of both primary and secondary pests in agricultural production principally rely on the use of pesticides with associated negative social and environmental consequences/externalities. Excessive use of pesticides against primary pets can remove NEs from the agro‐ecosystem and amplify susceptibility of the system to outbreaks of secondary pests. The combined effect of NEs on primary and secondary pests has received limited attention. This study uses an intraseasonal bioeconomic model to explicitly take into account biological interactions among primary pests, secondary pests, and NEs assuming decision makers’ profit maximizing behavior. The model explicitly captures the opportunity cost of injury to NE in terms of both primary and secondary pest suppression by NE. The results show that in the context of the green peach aphid (primary pest) and two‐spotted spider mite (secondary pest) in potato production, inclusion of NE into pest mitigation strategy can increase returns by 2%.     

From our perspective: developing printed extension materials with cocoa farmers in Ghana

Farmers' lack of access to technical information constitutes a major obstacle to improving cocoa productivity in West and Central Africa. Recent debates on cocoa extension pay little attention to the potentially important role of printed extension materials for promoting cocoa integrated crop and pest management (ICPM) and encouraging farmer experimentation. A key issue concerns how to design such materials to meet farmers' needs. Typically, printed agricultural extension materials are developed by technical experts with little input from farmers, the end users. Materials developed in this way are often incomprehensible or confusing to farmers as they tend to contain too much information and use culturally inappropriate symbols and complex language. This paper describes a process involving Ghanaian cocoa farmers, communications and extension specialists to develop an illustrated booklet on cocoa integrated crop and pest management. The case study shows that farmers can make significant contributions to designing printed extension materials by bringing their own perspectives to the sequencing and design of the materials, highlighting details and showing illustrators the most effective ways to convey messages in a non-written way (using body language, colour etc.). As a result of farmers' involvement, the illustrations in the booklet are presented in a story context and sequence, and use a cause and effect approach to communicating ideas. Farmers' input also ensured that the illustrations provide a holistic presentation of cocoa farming by highlighting the linkage between application of technologies and improved household welfare. The paper concludes by offering guidelines on best practices for involving farmers in extension material development.     

Technology Adoption and Pest Control Strategies Among UK Cereal Farmers: Evidence from Parametric and Nonparametric Count Data Models

This paper examines the intensity of technology adoption and integrated pest management strategies employed by UK farmers, using both parametric and nonparametric methods. We employ a unique survey dataset collected from UK cereal farmers to assess the determinants of technology adoption in relation to pest management. Our preferred model specification is nonparametric, with models estimated yielding broadly similar results, with some important qualitative differences. All models indicate that total area farmed is positively related to the number of technologies adopted, whereas the number of years of experience of the farmer is negatively related. We also find evidence with our nonparametric specification of significant statistical differences for number of adoptions by region across the UK.     

Pests and pesticides,risk and risk aversion

Theoretical and applied literature on risk in decision making for agricultural pest control is reviewed. Risk can affect pesticide decision making either because of risk aversion or because of its influence on expected profit. It is concluded that risk does not necessarily lead to increased pesticide use by individual farmers. Uncertainty about some variables, such as pest density and pest mortality, does lead to higher optimal pesticide use under risk aversion. However, uncertainty about other important variables, such as output price and yield, leads to lower optimal levels of pesticide use. Neglect of these variables in most studies has led to the false assumption that pesticides are always risk-reducing inputs. Furthermore, there is evidence that, in general, the pesticide dosage which maximises expected profit is lower under risk than under certainty. Depending on the balance of forces to increase and decrease pesticide use under risk, in many circumstances the net effect of risk on optimal decision making for pest control may be minimal. The effect on risk of information about pest density and other variables (as in integrated pest management programmes) is discussed. Evidence on this issue is mixed. A range of analytical techniques for analysing risk in pest control is reviewed. Throughout the paper, gaps in the existing literature are identified.     

精益管理在大米加工厂虫害防治中的应用实践

为探讨精益管理方法在控制大米加工厂害虫滋生中的应用价值.采用精益管理的方法与工具分析某大米加工厂原有的害虫防控工作流程中存在的问题,针对性地进行优化和持续改进.比较实施精益管理前后大米加工厂因生虫导致的退货和滞销生虫数量的变化.结果表明:实施精益管理后,大米加工厂生虫退货数量由原来的411.9 t/a,显著降低到145...     

Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Integrated Pest Management Extension Methods: An Example from Bangladesh

This study examines the cost-effectiveness of alternative methods for diffusing integrated pest management practices in Bangladesh. Methods compared include farmer field schools, field days, and extension agent visits. Farmer field school participants were more likely to adopt integrated pest management practices than recipients of messages from field days and agent visits. However, due to lower costs per participant, field days were the most cost-effective means for stimulating adoption of simpler practices and extension agent visits were the most cost-effective for extending more complex practices.     

Cooperative membership and adoption of green pest control practices: Insights from rice farmers

Reducing the use of chemical pesticide while preserving crop yield is a practical strategy that makes agricultural production economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Although the adoption of green pest control practices can help achieve such a goal, its adoption rate remains quite low. This study explores whether membership in agricultural cooperatives improves smallholder farmers' adoption of green pest control practices, utilising farm-level data surveyed from rice farmers in China. To enrich our understanding, we also investigate how the adoption of green pest control practices mediates the effects of cooperative membership on chemical pesticide expenditures. An endogenous switching probit model and a bootstrap-based mediation method are employed to achieve these goals. The empirical results show that cooperative membership significantly increases the probability of adopting physical pest control practices (e.g. pest-killing lamps or sticky plate traps) and biological pest control practices (e.g. biopesticides) by 6% and 19%, respectively. Cooperative membership significantly reduces chemical pesticide expenditures through its mediation effect on improving the probability of adopting biological pest control practices. There is also a complementary relationship between physical and biological pest control practices in pest management of rice production. The adoption of physical pest control practices significantly increases rice yield, while the adoption of biological pest control practices does not.     

有效的管理与经济效益--浅析湖南省地矿局属地化四年的财务资产管理实践

文章在简要描述了湖南省地矿局属地化以来的几年中经济增长质量与效益稳步提高的基本情况后,对其创新管理理念,实施集中财权等六项财务资产管理的实践作了系统地介绍,分析了有效的财务资产管理对提高经济效益的贡献。     

The Acquisition and Diffusion of Knowledge: The Case of Pest Management Training in Farmer Field Schools,Indonesia

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) are an intensive training approach introduced in the last decade in many developing countries to promote knowledge and uptake of ecologically sensible production approaches, and in particular, integrated pest management which minimises pesticide use. Because of the high training cost, the viability of the program depends crucially on the effectiveness of knowledge diffusion from trained farmers to other farmers. This paper uses panel data from Indonesia to assess the extent of diffusion of knowledge regarding integrated pest management from trained farmers to other farmers. The results confirm that better knowledge leads indeed to reduced pesticide use, and that trained farmers make a modest gain in knowledge. However, there is no significant diffusion of knowledge to other farmers who reside in the same villages as the trained farmers. These results imply that revision in the training procedures and curriculum need to be considered if the FFS approach is to become viable and effective.     

合理利用科技档案实现档案借阅查询系统管理自动化

科技档案对推动科技进步发挥着重要的作用。本文介绍了在科技档案管理中 ,应用计算机技术、网络技术和数据库技术实现科技档案借阅查询自动化管理的方法 ,对于提高科技档案管理水平有着重要的参考价值。     

A meta-analysis of the willingness to pay for reductions in pesticide risk exposure

We review the empirical valuation literature on pesticide riskexposure and develop a taxonomy of environmental and human healthrisks associated with pesticide usage. Meta-analysis is thenused to investigate the variation in willingness to pay (WTP)estimates for reduced pesticide risk exposure. Our findingsshow that the WTP for reduced risk exposure is 15 per cent greaterfor medium, and 80 per cent greater for high risk levels, ascompared with low risk levels. The income elasticity of reducedpesticide risk exposure is generally not significantly differentfrom zero. Stated preference approaches based on choice experimentsand revealed preference provide lower WTP estimates than contingentvaluation techniques. Survey design, type of safety device (eco-labelling,integrated pest management, or bans) and chosen payment vehicleare important drivers of the valuation results.     

Successful Practices in California Wine Exporting

Abstract

California is one of the world's largest wine producers, yet it has exported only a small portion of its products. Many US wineries want to pursue opportunities in foreign markets but only a few are actually doing this successfully. Therefore, this study attempts to identify the successful practices of 12 California wineries that have achieved their financial targets and other export goals. A qualitative research design of in-depth interviews was employed. Results indicate that there are 5 major success factors, with the two most important being the foreign partner relationship and top management vision and commitment to exporting.     

Yield quality and irrigation with saline water under environmental limitations: the case of processing tomatoes in California

Irrigation with saline water has a positive impact on some quality indices of processing tomatoes, but with concomitant reductions in output quantity. This article studies the impact of the trade‐off between these two factors on optimal water management under waterlogging and costly drainage‐disposal conditions. The focus is on the content of total soluble solids as a quality measure affecting prices paid by California processors to tomato growers. A function relating quality to water and salinity applications and a quality hedonic‐price function are estimated and introduced into a static, field‐level mathematical programming model. The model calculates optimal water management under environmental regulations associated with drainage disposal in California. Findings indicate that only when the quality effect is taken into account does blending fresh surface‐water with saline drain‐water become an optimal strategy. Management and policy implications on the regional scale are discussed.     

Application of stochastic dominance criteria to evaluate bean production strategies in Central Province,Zambia

Beans are the most important relish crop in the farming systems of Serenje District in Central Province, Zambia. Both leaves and dried beans are major food sources for home consumption, and dried beans have a commercial value in the system. Given this dual role, increasing bean yields would improve family nutrition as well as economic returns to capital and labor invested. However, low levels of production have been recorded over the years due to the use of local bean varieties, low fertility, and inadequate pest control. As a result, on-farm research on beans was carried out for four years to identify bean varieties and management strategies that would result in higher yields and economic returns. In this paper, the results of the four years on-farm research were analyzed using stochastic dominance efficiency criteria in order to determine the most risk-efficient production management strategies. The result indicated that the Brazilian bean variety Carioca, when used in combination with fertilizer and insecticide, performed best for the traditional and small-scale farmers in Serenje District who are usually highly averse to risk.     

仪器分析方法在食品检测分析中的应用

在现代食品安全管理过程中,食品检测分析是十分重要的生产管理方式。作为检测食品安全性的主要方式,仪器分析方法的发展飞快。当前,仪器分析方法因其便捷、快速、准确的性能,而在食品检测过程中广泛应用。本文首先简单描述了仪器分析方法的主要内容,然后对食品检测分析的重要性进行了简要分析,然后论述了仪器分析法在食品安全检验中的具体应用,以期为相关工作者提供理论参考。     

浅谈进口大豆储粮害虫综合防治策略

针对进口大豆保管过程中遇到的储粮害虫防治难题,中央储备粮日照仓储有限公司积极响应国家关于保障食品安全的总体要求,在分析相关虫种生活习性的基础上,多措并举,积极探索储粮害虫综合防治策略,通过物理防治与化学防治相结合的方式,抑制虫害的发生发展,实现储粮熏蒸率逐年降低,有效夯实了绿色储粮管理基础。     

PLANT PESTICIDE ECONOMICS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COTTON INSECTICIDES

The energy crisis and the current world food situation have both drawn attention to the importance of off-farm inputs in high-technology agricultural systems. Plant pesticides are one of the most important of these off-farm inputs. The correct use of chemical pesticides requires a high level of managerial competence since the issues involved are extremely complex. The development of an integrated approach to the management of plant pests offers an alternative to the increasingly expensive chemical control techniques. Cotton production illustrates both the complexities of the management involved in plant pest control and the feasibility of developing integrated control strategies. Plant pesticides, especially insecticides, also create externalities. The policy issues surrounding the use of cotton insecticides demonstrates the need for careful analysis before political action is taken. A feasible package of policy measures for the control of the use of insecticides in Australian cotton-growing areas is suggested.     

Impacts of price and exchange rate policies on pesticide use in the Philippines

Pesticide prices can influence producer decisions to apply pesticides as opposed to nonchemical means of pest control. Those prices are are turn influenced by price and exchange rate policies. The effective rate of protection for nine pesticides commonly applied to vegetables in the Philippines was calculated to determine whether government policies are creating incentives or disincentives to adopt more integrated pest management methods. Calculations found that direct price policies, primarily through an import tariff, tax pesticide use while an overvalued exchange rate subsidizes pesticide use. The net effect is a 6 to 8% pesticide subsidy. This subsidy results in economic surplus gains to vegetable producers and consumers when negative externalities associated with pesticide use are not accounted for. However, recent analysis of human health effects of pesticide use on rice in the Philippines demonstrates that these externalities can be substantial.     

Biosecurity in agriculture: an economic analysis of coexistence of professional and hobby production*

One component of biosecurity is protection against invasive alien species, which are one of the most important threats worldwide to native biodiversity and economic profitability in various sectors, including agriculture. However, agricultural producers are not homogeneous. They may have different objectives and priorities, use different technologies, and occupy heterogeneous parcels of land. If the producers differ in terms of their attitude towards invasive pests and the damages they cause, there are probably external effects in the form of pest spread impacts and subsequent damages caused. We study such impacts in the case of two producer types: profit‐seeking professional producers and utility‐seeking hobby producers. We show that the hobby producer, having first set a breeding ground for the pest, under‐invests in pest control. We also discuss potential policy instruments to correct this market failure and highlight the importance of considering different stakeholders and their heterogeneous incentives when designing policies to control invasive alien species.     

Pesticide‐handling practices: the case of coffee growers in Papua New Guinea

Pesticide mismanagement potentially has high risks for farmers, households living in the community and the environment. In Papua New Guinea where farming is the primary occupation, there is evidence of dangerous herbicide application methods being used by coffee growers. Using original survey data for coffee smallholders from four provinces, we assess the factors driving farmers' use of personal protective equipment when preparing and applying herbicides, and farmers' disposal of agro‐chemical containers. We control for households' demographic variables and measure the impact of farmers' training in pest and disease management. We use the special regressor method to estimate binary choice models featuring an endogenous binary regressor (training). Our results show that human capital (education) and training are important drivers of farmers' pesticide‐handling practices, with marginal effects estimated at 10 and 22 per cent, respectively.